REVIEW: Why Lizzo’s BITCH Album Might’ve Flopped

Last month, Lizzo released her fifth studio album, BITCH. A toast to herself, Lizzo’s album is a personal project reflective of the past four years of the artist’s life, dealing with darker and challenging moments involving a lawsuit and the public’s criticism. 

Lizzo reclaims the term “bitch,” signifying its strength, resilience, and power in learning to unapologetically accept and love herself, with the album serving as a collection of songs she wrote for herself first.

“I was a little more selfish this time as an artist and wrote songs I needed for myself to express,” said Lizzo in a previous interview with Today.

Despite Lizzo’s album delivering a powerful theme of self-acceptance, resilience, and reclaiming one’s identity, Lizzo’s album, BITCH, flopped.

In its first week, the album sold 2,649 copies and failed to chart on the Billboard 200, unlike her past albums, such as Special, which debuted at No. 2, and Cuz I Love You, which debuted at No. 6.

With “A Toast,” Lizzo opens the album to the ones who have hurt her the most. A bittersweet track of soulful R&B and gospel influences carried by warm piano chords. Lizzo’s opening track creates an atmosphere that lets her vulnerability take center stage. Lizzo acknowledges her pain and transforms it into a moment of resilience with lyrics like “I’m lettin’ go, just to free my mind/’Cause I’m finally who I said I’d be for the first time.” Rather than letting her past define her, reflection and acknowledgment of her pain and hurt become a moment of healing and gratitude that sets the emotional tone for the rest of BITCH.

While “A Toast” sets the emotional tone for BITCH, the album’s strongest moments come from Lizzo leaning into her vulnerability, self-reflection, and acceptance. 

However, not every track carries the same emotional weight. Throughout BITCH, Lizzo experiments with different sounds and genres, from jazz and rock to R&B, soul, pop, and gospel. While the album showcases Lizzo’s versatility, it can sometimes feel inconsistent, undermining its overall cohesion.

The title track, “BITCH” while it reclaims the word with her chorus singing, “I’m a bitch, I’m a lover, I’m a child, I’m a mother, I’m a sinner, I’m a saint, I do not feel ashamed, I’m a mess, I’m a queen, And everything between.”

The track lacks its sharp, unbothered conviction despite reclaiming the term as a declaration of confidence, unapologetic self-love and empowerment.

While BITCH struggles to find a consistent sound. Songs like “Don’t Make Me Love U” stand out due to their emotional vulnerability and visual production. The track interpolates Tina Turner’s keyboard line from “The Best” and Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” creating an empowering ‘80s-inspired track about Lizzo’s complicated relationship with the public and the press. Lizzo turns inward, creating a vulnerable reflection of an older and bigger past version of her self-image, acceptance, and the public’s perception.

Tracks like “Whose Hair Is This,” “Sexy Ladies,” “Little Black Cat,” and “Goodmorning!” also stand out, showcasing Lizzo’s versatility, humor, and confidence, reflective of the artist’s signature sound that blends humor, self-love, and an infectious energy.

While BITCH may not have performed as well as Lizzo or fans might have hoped, the album serves as a personal reflection of Lizzo’s growth, vulnerability, and journey of self-love and acceptance.